Hotel Folly: Folie a Deux

Hotel Folly: Folie a Deux

Produced by Margareta Szabo
The human cost of the banking crisis

Overview

Genre
Portrait, Cultural History, Social Issues, Contemporary Issues, and Human Interest
Synopsis

Filmed over five years, this is an emotional rollercoaster of a documentary which explores the sometimes extreme highs and lows of one of life's biggest gambles - buying a home.

Helen has seven children, a new partner and a very comfortable lifestyle when they decide to get a mortgage to buy one of the most historical houses in England. They want to convert the shabby 72-room mansion in the centre of York into a tasteful hotel, but when the financial crisis hits their dream turns into their worst nightmare.

For five years, feisty Helen fights the banks for a loan for the spiralling renovation costs and her neighbours over rights to the courtyard. While her house gradually becomes unsellable, she persists with her neigbourhood wars.

Part black comedy, part nail-biting journey, this shows the human cost of the mortgage crisis.

Stage
finished
Running time
84 minutes

Credits

Production Details

Prod. Co.
Labor of Love films Ltd.
Country
United Kingdom
Years of Production
Nov 2007 - Nov 2012
Locations
York, England

Distribution Details

Release year
2013
Festivals
IDFA, Cambridge Int, Vilnius,
Distribution
Labor of Love Films Distribution
Broadcast (Acq.)
BBC Storyville, YesDoco
Language
English

Photos

2e8a401a95d4d9d2a87130df51376869

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